4 ms·

Hm, like what? I'm trying to think of some applications for metal printing.

anon_342njlkesr 9y ago
Spare parts. Hope that someone scanned in whatever broke and print a replacement. Or more realistically: allow enterprising college students, most likely chinese ones, to print these spare parts and sell them on ebay, circumventing the manufacturer-imposed fantasy prices.
aidenn0 9y ago
Hard to source parts for old cars? Those cost a lot more than $2 each.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
kerkeslager 9y ago
Car parts, computer cases (built-in heatsinks), rock climbing gear (not sure printed metal is strong enough for this one), sculptures, gun receivers (again, there are strength problems), matching door knobs and faucets for houses, prosthetic frames (to be later encased in silicone)... I'm sure there's more.
tcas 9y ago
I would consider using it anywhere I would be looking at CNC-ed metal, especially for one off parts/prototypes. A lot of the cost of CNC is programming and fixturing, which 3D printing technologies save.
- ianyang 9y ago
  Does seem competitive vs CNCs. But what are its benefits? CNCs might have higher set-up costs but are incredibly accurate.
  - tcas 9y ago
    Correct on the accuracy, but you can design parts with features like undercuts and cavities on 3D printing that are either not possible, or much more expensive, to CNC. Not every metal part requires the 0.001" tolerance you can get with CNC as well. I look at it as another technology that can be selected when the parameters make sense for it. I'm more familiar with plastic technologies, for them I switch between FDM, SLS, SLA, Polyjet and Injection Molding depending on: - Forecasted quantity - Time to market needed - Price constraints - Accuracy and surface finish required - Design requirements Each technology has it's own advantages and disadvantages.
  - bocklund 9y ago
    It's the running costs. If you want to make a lot of the same part and need a 5 axis mill, they have to be operated by technicians which are extremely expensive and they can't work on anything else. Make a lot of parts on a printer and you spend a little more time designing the part and time to tune the settings (which might be done depending on the material you use) and you're off and printing and just paying for print time. Not cheap, but cheaper than paying techs at mid-scale.
- StillBored 9y ago
  Much of the toolpath programming/selection/etc could be "automated" the same way that its automated for FDM printers. But then you would lose some of the "quality" advantage and likely increase tool wear. But the reverse is also true of 3d printing, frequently I've wanted more control of some particular aspect of the printing job, but existing slicing packages make that very difficult. For example, just slow down the printing along one edge (rather than a whole layer), or change the infill for one particular area, or more detailed temp control of "inactive" nozzles, or just more options during nozzle switch (aka pause for 20 seconds to cool the inactive 10C while heating the active, then wipe both).

Spare parts. Hope that someone scanned in whatever broke and print a replacement. Or more realistically: allow enterprising college students, most likely chinese ones, to print these spare parts and sell them on ebay, circumventing the manufacturer-imposed fantasy prices.

aidenn0 9y ago

Hard to source parts for old cars? Those cost a lot more than $2 each.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

kerkeslager 9y ago

Car parts, computer cases (built-in heatsinks), rock climbing gear (not sure printed metal is strong enough for this one), sculptures, gun receivers (again, there are strength problems), matching door knobs and faucets for houses, prosthetic frames (to be later encased in silicone)... I'm sure there's more.

tcas 9y ago

I would consider using it anywhere I would be looking at CNC-ed metal, especially for one off parts/prototypes. A lot of the cost of CNC is programming and fixturing, which 3D printing technologies save.

ianyang 9y ago
Does seem competitive vs CNCs. But what are its benefits? CNCs might have higher set-up costs but are incredibly accurate.
- tcas 9y ago
  Correct on the accuracy, but you can design parts with features like undercuts and cavities on 3D printing that are either not possible, or much more expensive, to CNC. Not every metal part requires the 0.001" tolerance you can get with CNC as well. I look at it as another technology that can be selected when the parameters make sense for it. I'm more familiar with plastic technologies, for them I switch between FDM, SLS, SLA, Polyjet and Injection Molding depending on: - Forecasted quantity - Time to market needed - Price constraints - Accuracy and surface finish required - Design requirements Each technology has it's own advantages and disadvantages.
- bocklund 9y ago
  It's the running costs. If you want to make a lot of the same part and need a 5 axis mill, they have to be operated by technicians which are extremely expensive and they can't work on anything else. Make a lot of parts on a printer and you spend a little more time designing the part and time to tune the settings (which might be done depending on the material you use) and you're off and printing and just paying for print time. Not cheap, but cheaper than paying techs at mid-scale.
StillBored 9y ago
Much of the toolpath programming/selection/etc could be "automated" the same way that its automated for FDM printers. But then you would lose some of the "quality" advantage and likely increase tool wear. But the reverse is also true of 3d printing, frequently I've wanted more control of some particular aspect of the printing job, but existing slicing packages make that very difficult. For example, just slow down the printing along one edge (rather than a whole layer), or change the infill for one particular area, or more detailed temp control of "inactive" nozzles, or just more options during nozzle switch (aka pause for 20 seconds to cool the inactive 10C while heating the active, then wipe both).